Tornado chase: Final day

Thursday, our last chase day, was spent travelling back toward Oklahoma City, some eight hours to our west. Our day began at 11 a.m. from Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Bob Ulchak

Thursday, our last chase day, was spent travelling back toward Oklahoma City, some eight hours to our west. Our day began at 11 a.m. from Poplar Bluff, Mo.

We made special stop at Ellsinore, the site of the tornado we observed the day before. The damage was impressive as the EF2 tornado swept across a wooded area, totally wiping out the trees.

The tornado unfortunately had destroyed a home within sight of the road. Our tour group of storm chasers passed the hat and was able to give the young couple $200 so they could buy some clothing.

We continued heading west when one of my fellow storm chasers asked if we could stop in Branson to view the IMAX movie “Tornado Alley.” The vans diverted quickly toward Branson, skipping lunch to get to the theater in time.

It was very interesting driving through Branson, a city in the heart of farmland. Branson is a hopping city with both sides of the streets lined with tourist attractions one would find in Atlantic City or Orlando -- something to do for all members of the family.

We then stopped at a Golden Corral restaurant for supper and then back on the road, arriving in Tulsa, Okla., around 10:30 p.m.

Friday, we drove the two-hour trip back to Oklahoma and our original starting point. Our storm-chasing tour had ended. I am happy to be returning home to Quincy, Mass. I have greatly enjoyed my chasing experience. I met folks from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia -- I also made new friends from Wisconsin, Kansas, Virginia, Illinois and California.

I had traveled nearly 4,200 miles in 10 days, had seen the beautiful open lands of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. I had also seen three tornados. Although damaging events, they were an awesome showing of Mother Nature’s strength.

I would like to introduce you to the Tempest Tours of Arlington, Texas, staff who put forth all of their knowledge and efforts to make this trip a memorable event. I encourage anyone interested in having the experience of chasing tornados in the beautiful Plains of the United States to consider Tempest Tours as your experienced tour guides. The schedule of trips is booked for this year, but it is not too early to book for 2012.

I also encourage you to see an upcoming episode of “Cantore’s Stories” that will air on the Weather Channel sometime in the next three months. The episode will show the day-to-day life of a storm chaser.

I would like to introduce you to the staff of Tempest Tours that accompanied us on our tour:

-- Bill Reid, head tour guide: Bill has been chasing tornados for nearly 20 years. He lives in Van Nuys, Calif. He works for Tempest Tours for 10 weeks then resumes his work as a weather observer for the National Weather Service for 16 hours a week and 30 hours a week in a California food market.

-- Chad Cowan, driver: Chad attends Kansas State College, majoring in meteorology. His interest in weather began when his grandfather gave him a gift of a storm-chasing video. He has chased tornados for 10 years.

-- Chris Gillikson resides in Wisconsin. He had spent 17 years as an electrical engineer, changing careers to work in his father’s custom horse saddle business. Chris has chased for 10 years.

Bob Ulchak is a weather enthusiast from Quincy, Mass., who is chasing tornadoes in “Tornado Alley” through May 27. Follow him on his blog http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/weather.